Name: Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup / 130g peanut butter (unsweetened); 1 1/2 tbsp coconut flour; 1 tbsp protein powder; 1 1/2 tbsp granulated erythritol; 1/2 cup / 130g peanut butter; 1 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened); 1 1/2 tbsp granulated erythritol; 1 tbsp protein powder; 1 1/2 tbsp coconut flour

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Why spend money on expensive energy bars when you can make this easy low carb protein bar recipe with only 5 simple ingredients? These peanut butter protein bars are chewy and fudgy yet they stay firm at room temperature. The recipe is sugar free, low carb, gluten free and Keto.

Shop-bought low carb protein bars

I get it. Shop-bought low carb protein bars are suuper convenient. But they often come with a hefty price tag. Plus, many contain additives to extend shelf life, questionable sweeteners and inflammatory vegetable oils. And while they do solve an immediate problem (=hunger), I've never sampled one that actually tastes GREAT.

Easy Keto protein bar recipe

With a teeny-tiny bit of planning ahead, you can make absolutely DELICIOUS FUDGY, CHEWY peanut butter protein bars at home. They'll boost your energy after a workout and they're a fat-fuelled, protein-rich snack if you simply need a pick-me-up in between meals.

The main ingredient of this healthy Keto protein bar recipe is peanut butter. Peanut butter already has a high protein content, which I'm boosting with additional protein powder. I never add protein powder to my smoothies (I prefer straight-low carb granola, up veggie smoothies such as this detox Keto green smoothie). But I do like to add a scoop to my granolas because it helps to add extra crunch - check out this the crispy clusters are to die for.)

I experimented quite a bit with this recipe, because originally I wanted to create a no-bake protein bar. The problem with this was that no mix was sufficiently firm at room temperature whilst still fudgy and chewy. I did not want to coat the whole bar in chocolate only to get around that issue.

The solution? 25 minutes in the oven. Yes, a lil' bit of baking produces absolutely awesomely healthy protein bars that you can carry around all day in your handbag until hunger strikes!

How to make low carb peanut butter protein bars - step by step:

1.) Put the ingredients for the base and the top layer in separate bowls. I decided to use a brown sugar alternative to sweeten, but any granulated erythritol will work.

Your peanut butter should be EASY TO SCOOP. Give it a good stir if necessary - especially in larger pots it tends to settle on the bottom.

2.) Mix your ingredients with a fork and knead with your hands until you have a smooth dough.

3.) Grab yourself an oven-safe container. The mixture will fill a space of 5 x 6 inches. Your dish is larger than that? No problem. Simply fold a bit of aluminium paper and use it as a separator. That way, you can use only part of your casserole dish. The mixture does not spread.

Line the space with parchment paper and fill in first the peanut layer, then the chocolate peanut layer. Or do it the other way around 🙂

4.) After 25 minutes of oven time the bars are ready. This is what you should look out for: The top does not glisten any more. It has set and the edges are beginning to brown.

Wait until your low carb protein bars have cooled down before you cut them. They will be fragile and soft while hot, but firm up as they cool down.

Healthy peanut butter protein bar ingredients

There are plenty of peanut butter protein bars out there that use oats to thicken. I chose coconut flour because not only is it low carb and magnificently healthy, but it also absorbs plenty of liquid. Together with the protein powder, it is the ideal binder.

You can use crunchy or smooth peanut butter in this recipe, whichever you prefer. The bars with crunchy peanut butter can crumble a little when you cut them. If you are after razor-sharp edges, I recommend you use smooth peanut butter.

Always check the label when buying peanut butter to make sure it does not contain added sugar! I like to use the Meridian brand here in the UK - it contains 100% peanuts and nothing else.

You can add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon for a taste variation or a pinch of salt. If you're feeling a bit naughty, you could also add a handful of sugar free chocolate chips!

How long do homemade sugar free protein bars last in the fridge?

Your peanut butter bars will keep on the kitchen counter for a couple of days and a good 7 days in the fridge. You can also freeze them. What I love about them is that you can transport them easily. They are a perfect on-the-go snack.

Love peanut butter? Check out these recipes:

Tried these peanut butter protein bars? Give them a star rating below!

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Recipe

Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Katrin Nürnberger

from Sugar Free Londoner

It's super simple to make absolutely DELICIOUS FUDGY, CHEWY peanut butter protein bars! They'll boost your energy after a workout and they're a fat-fuelled, protein-rich snack if you simply need a pick-me-up on the go.

4.96 from 23 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Course Snack

Cuisine British

Servings

Calories 211 kcal

Note: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.

Ingredients

Base Layer

▢ ½ cup / 130g peanut butter unsweetened
▢ 1 ½ tablespoon coconut flour
▢ 1 tablespoon protein powder
▢ 1 ½ tablespoon granulated erythritol

Top Layer

▢ ½ cup / 130g peanut butter
▢ 1 tablespoon cocoa powder unsweetened
▢ 1 ½ tablespoon granulated erythritol
▢ 1 tablespoon protein powder
▢ 1 ½ tbsp coconut flour

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 175 Celsius / 350 Fahrenheit.
Put the ingredients for the base and the top layer in separate bowls and mix with a fork, then knead with your hands to combine.
Line a ovenproof dish with parchment paper. Spread the base layer, then add the top layer to fit a space of ca 5 x 6 inches.
Bake for up to 25 minutes. The bars are ready when the top has set and is beginning to brown around the edges. Remove and let cool to room temperature before cutting.

Notes

You can use a larger ovenproof dish and only use part of its space. Simply build a divider made with aluminium foil. The mixture does not spread.

You can use crunchy or smooth peanut butter. The crunchy peanut butter bars are a little harder to cut. If you want perfect edges and no crumbles, choose smooth peanut butter.

Patience! The bars will be very soft and fragile while hot, but they firm up as they cool down.

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcalTotal Carbohydrates: 5.9gProtein: 11.3gFat: 15.4gSaturated Fat: 2.8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6.9gMonounsaturated Fat: 4.7gFiber: 3.9gSugar: 2.5g

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